Tricky Films

Animated television commercials directed by Marjut Rimminen in Finland and London since 1971. More than eighty productions over thirty years.

A drawn woman lathers a man's hair as they share a claw-foot bath, three Vivante bottles in front.Vivante1971 · BernerThe woman waits in a slip against red floral wallpaper, hands pressed together.Valintatalo, Hyvä tyttö1974 · ValintataloRainbow arcs and a small cloud over long strands of drawn hair.Vitaplus1975–1978 · IndalHer sunglass lenses have turned into red and white candy stripes as she speaks.Marianne1978 · Chymos (now Fazer)A child in a snowsuit jumps over a puddle in the middle of the word reima.Enstex1978 · ReimaA long-snouted dog in a green jacket and cap dances alone in a spotlight.Kunnox1979 · Lääke Oy
…Marjut Rimminen is an experimenter, more inspired by new techniques, methods and viewpoints than by sticking to an easily recognisable style.
Anne VälinoroAamulehti, 7 March 1998
A woman, a child on a tricycle and a dog on the grass beside the red house.Fennia, kotipiirivakuutus1979 · FenniaA man in striped pyjamas eats at the breakfast table beside the cereal box.Kellogg, bran cereals1979 · Kellogg CompanyA cartoon surfer rides a wave, holding up a huge bubble lettered BUBBIS twice.Bubbis1979 · HellasA drawn young woman in profile, long fair hair, lifting a tablet to her lipsTreo, soluble painkiller1979 · Leo-FennicaGiant red Serto letters stand against the machine, its round door doubling as the letter o.Serto1980–1983 · SertoExtreme close-up of a drawn face: one made-up eye, a cheek and the mouth corner.13–19, Kun iho huutaa apua1980–1983 · Womena
I want to make short short films. Working in commercials I’ve learned how much you can fit into 15 seconds, as long as the idea is clear and the medium under control.
Marjut RimminenIlta Sanomat, 10 March 1997
One elephant dips its trunk into the blue puddle while the others look onSerlafantti1980–1983 · SerlaAn older man in suit and glasses winces at a table in a glass-roofed restaurantGaviscon1980–1983 · FerringA rolling pin marked AXO passes over the lettering, flattening the words beneath itAXO, butter pastry1980–1983 · AXOA glowing yellow wireframe tiger walks in front of the Esso Uniflo bottle.Esso Uniflo1980–1983 · EssoTony the Tiger, drawn, holds a magnifying glass by a kennel; a real dog watches.Kellogg, Toni Tiikeri1980–1983 · Kellogg CompanyA girl in a yellow top runs along a track towards an open red door.Serlan Pehmo1980–1983 · Serla
Marjut Rimminen has been making TV commercials for over thirty years, longer than many in the industry have been alive. She is the most internationally recognised Finnish animator working in advertising.
Markkinointi & Mainonta, November 2000
The neon script Sparkling White Cap glows above two full glasses.White Cap1984 · MarliA cat drinks through a straw under red MEHUKATTI lettering, oranges either side.Mehukatti1984 · MarliThe Ulkoilu Kartta cover in front of open farmland, a signpost and a low sun.Maps, Kartat1984 · MaanmittaushallitusA couple in cream lean on the white rail; SOKOS sits bottom right.Weekend, fashion1984 · SokosClose on the badger against yellow and white diagonal stripes, one paw raised.Nami Nami1984–1990 · ValioThe drawn man reaches for the handle of a barred door lettered BANK.Visa Card1985 · Luottokunta
Making commercials is an excellent way to keep bread on the table, develop your craft, and get to try ever-new techniques.
Marjut RimminenIlta Sanomat, 10 March 1997
He sits on the bed with an arm round her as she drinks from a mug.Coldrex1987 · WinthropA woman in a yellow skirt stands on a painted sweet-strewn hillside behind dark tree trunks.Malaco1987 · MalacoLeaning in from the left, the magician faces a woman who touches her cheek.Finlux, Taika-Jim1987 · FinluxA black four-litre Neste can, orange alpha and green Alfa 2, on the blue grid.Neste Alfa 2, winter1987 · NesteA snarling red cartoon devil with clenched fists over a queue of grey cars.Teitten Ritari1988–1990 · LiikenneturvaBoth machines laugh as drawn whirls spin on their fronts, spin speeds captioned below.UPO Tehokarhut1988 · UPO
…the grand old lady of Finnish animation, Marjut Rimminen: her commercials carry the mark of an artist’s hand…
Markkinointi & Mainonta, 40/2000
Two windmills stand behind the green train above the wide flower field.Kulinaari1988 · PauligThe cabinet grins and gestures with a drawn paw under the banner UPO UUSI PAKASTUSAUTOMAATTI.UPO weather, sale and laundry1990–1991 · UPOTwo drawn cows tumble out of a tilted red Valio Maito carton over green field.Valion maito, neljä ystävää1991 · ValioA white liner sails a sea of orange slices, a dog in a sailor’s cap at the rail.Picnic1992 · MeliaA wc cleaner bottle stands in a drawn bathroom of yellow tiles and a green floor.OL detergents1992 · KonseptiThe lion’s face fills the frame before a night skyline, crescent moon and green grass.Postipankki, Laskuja, laskuja1992 · Postipankki
She is one of those Finns who is better known abroad than at home.
Leena VirtanenHelsingin Sanomat, 10 March 1997
A rainbow-striped lolly in a drawn mouth, three fresh strawberries balanced on the lips.Joke1994 · ValioTwo glass dishes of ice cream side by side on the leaf backdrop, logotype top leftLa Gala, tankarunot1994 · ValioA black and white cow stands on the shelf while the shopper reaches up towards itTetra Pak1995 · Tetra PakSkeleton and dog meet nose to nose among the grey rocksHui Kauhistus1996–1998 · ValioA woman on a staircase dissolving into a close-up of a smiling blonde face, MADAME in redMadame1999 · A-lehdetThe drawn baker in his tall white hat gives a thumbs-up in a tiled bakery doorwayPomppis, leipuri1999 · Kotileipomot
As an animator, it is such joy to make my drawings dance like I want them to.
Marjut RimminenJayne Pilling, Women and Animation
Wrapped fresh pizzas on a white shelf, labels reading Take’n’Bake Pizza Americana and MexicanaTake & Bake Pizza1999 · HKThe worm stretched out along the foreground, thin grass and standing water behind itNokian NRV, Kastemato1999 · NokiaThree dough figures with dotted faces lie on a dark baking tray.Sunnuntai, Pullapoika2002 · RaisioA slice topped with soft cheese and a tall frilly lettuce leaf rises from the toaster slotHovi, peilit2004 · ValioThe Cinenova wordmark in white hand-painted letters on black, PROMOTING FILMS BY WOMEN beneath.Cinenova2000 · Cinenova Film DistributorsAn engraved drawing of two hands inside a ruled square, TAMPERE FILM FESTIVAL beneath on black.Tampere Film Festival2000 · identA collage of torn film stills and painted colour around a black and white 100 circle.100 Years of Cinema1995 · Finnish Film FoundationA small clay figure of a woman stands inside a glass Absolut bottle.Absolut Marjut Rimminen1996 · Absolut VodkaTwo drawn figures, one blue and one pink, dance on a tightrope against night clouds.Unicef AIDS Red Ribbon2001 · UNICEFA yellow slab sweeps across black with brushed streaks, orange Clarion roundel sitting below.ClarionClarion